vegansaurus!

The Vegansaurus holiday gingerbread collection!  »

You guys, I love gingerbread. I love it more than chocolate, even. (Less than lemon or peanut butter, though I’m not a monster.) Partly because it reminds me of childhood baking with my ma, partly because it reminds me of the best technically religious holiday of the year, CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS HOORAY, and partly because it is delicious and people who don’t like it worry me, on principle.

Have you made gingerbread yet this season? I am eating a gingerbread tyrannosaurus while typing this post! It’s delicious! I’d show you a photo, but it’s tragically ugly and I’m ashamed. I used our friend/super-famous vegan genius Isa’s recipe that she wrote three years ago!

If you haven’t made your own gingerbread cookies, get on it. Or better yet, houses! I made gingerbread houses seven years ago with three adorable children, and it was so fun. Our Megan Rascal made vegan gingerbread houses with her family two years ago, remember how awesome they looked?

Last year we saw gingerbread Daleks from Johnson Cameraface! Super-geeky, super-awesome!

Last year we also saw these crazy raw, gluten-free gingerbread people from d.i. wine and dine!

Finally, VegNews just posted this recipe for gingerbread from Ben Adams of Sticky Fingers Bakery!

So many options for gingerbread! Which are you going to make? May I suggest ALL OF THEM? It’s gingerbread time, everyone! Merry happy!

Beer koozies are out, queso koozies are in. Plus, everyone loves cookies! The last minute vegan gift guide.  »

Crystal and Chris Tate, the geniuses behind Food for Lovers vegan queso (you’ve had it right? It’s available at Whole Foods throughout this country!) have teamed up with  etsy artists to bring you…

Koozies for your queso! Or…

a chili ornament! Or… a Texas state ornament!

Since I know you are buying one of these for me, I prefer the koozie [Ed. note: I thought it was “cozy,” because, like, now your queso will be cozy! Which is it?! Is this an east coast/west coast thing?]. How else will my queso keep warm in the chilly city of San Francisco?
If you want one of these precious “Don’t Mess With Texas“ handcrafted gifts, you have to act fast. They are only available for two more days! For $20 (shipping included) you get a jar of queso, a piece of handmade artistry and a card with a personalized message for the recipient (no one has to know it’s you, buying and receiving said gift. Hey! You gotta do you).

Fat Bottom Bakery, based out of Oakland, is also offering a special holiday gift for you! Fifteen dollars will get you an assortment of a dozen delicious cookies! How do they do it? So many flavors: sweet snickerdoodles, festive spiced molasses, ginger-glazed cranberry, AND shortbread swirls with chocolate ganche. Send them to me. I will enjoy them thoroughly. Or get them for the office party! Or the family thing, then don’t tell anyone they’re vegan and watch everyone chow down! (Or eat them alone while watching netflix, whatever!)

So many cookies! This is truly a winter wonderland!

Again, $15 a dozen, which you can pick up at their bakery; or for $20, they will deliver these delectable items to you! Within Berkeley or Oakland, of course. What do you think this day and age is? A time in which we can teleport ourselves over the Bay Bridge? (I hope that time is soon)

Vegan Gift Guide: Great vegan gifts for omnis!  »

I am a world class gift-giver. Everybody says so. Like, even Jesus. And for my gift to you, I’m going to share some of my present ideas for this holiday season! Now, I think gifts should be all about who you’re giving them to, not about who you are. A lot of people buy gifts they themselves would like without thinking of what the recipient likes. You like books, your friend likes music—you buy them music, not a book! Simple enough, but it seems to allude many people.

What I’m getting at is your gifts for the omnis in your life shouldn’t be all about your veganism. Trust me, your fam knows you’re vegan (and if they don’t, they’ll get a clue when you bust out the soy nog), you don’t have to remind them again when it’s present time. But at the same time, you can’t be buying them leather jackets! So what to do? Buy secretly vegan gifts! You forgo the “Bacon had a Mom” shirt and get them gifts they will like that happen to be vegan—and maybe do a little good on the sly. Like something that benefits the environment; no one will suspect that it is secretly helping vegans! But it’s like I always say, we vegans have to protect the environment because that’s where all the animals live! And hey, if it’s trendy waxed canvas instead of leather, no one will think twice. But you’ll know it’s vegan! Oh, you’ll know.

Without further ado, great gifts vegans can buy omnis!:

Atelier Haiti Blue Forest Coffee from La Colombe 

If you didn’t know, people love coffee. I swear! It’s true! And in New York and Philly, the biggest thing in coffee is La Colombe. People are crazy for it. It’s at all the posh places. It’s really good! But what’s better, their ethics are out of control. They do direct trade, invest in the community, worry about the rainforest and all that good stuff. And it’s shade-grown so the birds are OK! Laura told me about that, I didn’t even know. But yeah, some coffee is bad for birds!

So you can impress the hipster, urbanite, or coffee-lover in your life by getting them the coolest thing in coffee while secretly knowing the birds and rainforest are OK and your ethics are intact!

Hand Woven Cotton Scarf from Babysabye on Etsy

You know what moms are? Cold. Like, all the time. OK, sometimes they are annoyingly hot, but they spend much of their time being cold. So what better gift than a scarf?! Not a bulky, winter-wear scarf; a pretty, indoor scarf to keep them warm in rooms that are actually a perfectly reasonable temperature. And they can take them off if they get hot! Perf.

And if your mom is like mine, she has entered what I once read described as, “the Goddess Phase.” My mom and all her friends are in the Goddess Phase—You’d know it if you saw it! It’s all about loose linen clothes, beaded necklaces, herbal tea, etc. A scarf is so goddess. Plus, these scarfs are all cotton, vegetable-dyed and super organic. Up with cotton, down with wool!

Marled French Terry Shawl Collar sweater by Threads 4 Thought

You know what dads need? Classy, relaxed clothing. Things that make them look like the distinguished old gentlemen that they are while also keeping their old gentlemen bodies comfortable. So something like this cotton half sweatshirt/half sweater is just the thing! While everyone else is giving him stuffy silk ties and itchy wool sweaters, you’ll be like, “Blammo!” Organic cotton! And it doesn’t hurt that Threads 4 Thought is a sustainable brand that supports great organizations like Natural Resource Defense Council. They even have their own world-saving effort, Girl 2 Girl, that seeks to empower girls throughout the world. Can I get a huzzah?!

Pink and Blue Bunnies bikini panty by Purrfect Pineapples

Need a cheeky yet utilitarian gift for your sweetie? How about cruelty-free underoos from vegan-owned Purrfect Pineapples! All their products are sweatshop and animal-free. They are also handmade and they do custom orders! So if they don’t have your size or you have some wacky design, they can make it happen.

When your main squeeze opens this present, no way will they be like, “OMG stop pushing your beliefs on me!” They will be like, “OMG let’s do it!” And your love-making will be that much more satisfying knowing you supported a vegan biz. Also, sorry I said love-making. Bleh, love. And making. Bleh. 

Recycled Wine Bottle Glasses from Bodhicitta on Etsy

Know a wine lover, a sustainable design enthusiast and/or someone with a new place? These wine tumblers would make a great present. Not only are they recycled, but they’re totally meta! Kind of? You’d be drinking wine from tumblers made of wine bottles! Whatever, it’s cool and they are pretty. And environmentally friendly!

Andean Collection Amazon Necklace in Tropical

This eco-friendly, fair trade necklace also happens to be approved by my sister so YOU KNOW it’s cute. She suggests pairing it with some gold for a real WHAM BAM effect. World of Good, where you can purchase this hotness, also points out: “The beautiful jewelry of the collection is made by Ecuadorian artisans from natural, local rain forest materials. This not only helps the artisans earn a living wage, but it also helps to protect the rain forest by creating a profitable and low impact use of its materials.” I love stuff like that! Where you make keeping environmental and animal stuff more valuable than killing it all. That rules.

If I Were a Puppy kids’ book from the Humane Society

You may say to yourself, “What about the kids?!” Well, I’ve got a little something for them too! This cute book comes with a plush dog AND has tactile stuff on the pages for kiddies to mess with. And the best part? It benefits the Humane Society! Or maybe the tactile stuff is the best part, I used to love that fuzzy bunny book. Sigh. That was awesome.

Wait, wait, wait, the best part is that kids love books (for some wacky reason) and kids love animals, so no one will suspect that you are secretly indoctrinating them into the vegan lifestyle! Haaaa, that is the best.

Women’s Bean Project Snickerdoodle cookie mix from The Animal Rescue Site

OK, here’s my bid for the cheap secret santa gift. At $6.50, this cookie mix (which contains no animal ingredients on its own) is fair-trade, eco-friendly and supports the Women’s Bean Project, “an innovative social enterprise in Denver, Colorado which benefits women with a history of poverty and chronic unemployment.” If that is not enough for you, it funds 14 bowls of food for shelter animals!

And this is a good generic present because it’s not some dumb, cheapo thing the recipient is going to be stuck with; they can actually use it and it goes away. And cookies are yummy!

Elephant Book Labels from Boygirlparty on Etsy

I know many book collectors and they are a nutty lot. They are obsessed! And one thing I have learned is, unless you are getting them some rare first edition, never try to buy them an actual book as a gift; If it’s a book they wanted, they will have already gotten it by the time you’re trading presents. If they don’t have it, it’s because they don’t want it. Another thing I have learned is the bane of the book collector’s existence is when they loan a book to someone and never get it back. It haunts them in the wee hours. The solution? Book labels! And if you recall, not only are these labels eco-friendly, but use our “VEGANSAURUS” coupon code at Boygirlparty’s etsy store and you will get 10 percent off your order and 10 percent of the sale will be donated to the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary. You’ll help animals AND your book-enthusiast will feel like someone finally understands their deep-seated collector’s anxiety.

Another thing: these book labels would make a good gift for kids too. Like I said, kids love books; Another thing kids love is laying claim to things. With these labels, they can tell the whole world this is their book. Plus, look at that cute elephant!

Shaving Kit by Olive Authentique on Ethical Ocean

This is perfect for the gentleman or aspiring gentleman. Or just anyone who likes to stay groomed. Or really, anyone who’s gone through puberty. If they don’t know already, they will find out: shaving brushes rule! They work as a gentle exfoliant so you can get a nice smooth shave with less irritation. That’s what makes this a great present: it’s classy, utilitarian, and works better. And with this kit, you get all-natural, environmentally friendly, vegan soap and a brush free of badger hair. Yay! Bleh, badger hair. Leave it for the badgers.

So those are my recommendations! I spent a lot of time on them! Because I love you. And because gift-giving should be a pleasure, not a chore! I hope these help with that. Have fun and be merry!

Product review: Saying “yes” to No Cookie cookies  »

Imagine a vegan cookie that contains no refined sugar, no wheat, no hydrogenated oils, and no trans fat. Then you’ll likely also imagine vomiting upon ingestion of said cookie. HOWEVER, in real life, you won’t (if you’ve got any goddamned sense).
I had tried the cookies from the No Bakery in Oakland a few years ago and was unimpressed with the grainy, crumbly pucks that needed strong flavor to overpower their “off” taste. Also, some of the varieties were gluten-free, so that may have had something to do with it (celiacs, I am truly sorry for my gluten-centric world view). But after deciding that free cookies are better than no cookies (wordplay!), I wrote to the good folks at No Bakery, and they sent me a package of every single one of their products. Points for generosity!

No Bakery offers seven flavors of cookie and one flavor of brownie, and each package contains two big-ass cookies nearly the size of my face for $2.25. Barley flour stands in for wheat flour in these baked goods, but you wouldn’t know the difference. They’re just as soft, chewy, and moist as, for example, ABC Cookies, but they’re perfect for those with a wheat allergy or sensitivity.

The cookies were all really, really good, even though the brownie was a bit chewier than I’d prefer. The flavors are pretty distinct, from innovative ones like Carob Mint and Island Coconut to classics like Oatmeal Raisin and Peanut Butter. My favorite was Ginger Spice, but ginger makes me all wet in the panties. You can buy them online or at stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats. So you should.

Vegan MoFo: No Cookie cookies!  »

A complete review is forthcoming once I get used to my new schedule (I got a new full-time job, guys! Also, I’m so very tired), but for now I’ll show you what I’ve been eating pretty much nonstop for the past week and encourage you to go out and raid your local health food store for some right now: